Untitled (SFE-046) 1988

Sam Francis made this Untitled painting by flinging colourful paint onto a white ground. I can imagine him, brush loaded, ready to make a mark, with a sense of abandon. There’s so much light and air around those floating islands of color. They're kind of cartoonish, but like a Japanese woodblock print, too. He makes the paint look so juicy and effortless, which is a real trick! The white of the page really sings, and the colors are so vibrant, especially that big splotch of red. It's like he was trying to capture a feeling more than a scene, something about freedom and the joy of making. It reminds me a bit of Joan Mitchell’s work, but with a California twist. Painting is such a great conversation across time, and I love how Francis adds his voice to it.